Hello…I’m now 47 years old. I was diagnosed May 2013 with Grade 3 TNBC in my left breast. Had a lumpectomy, 18 lymphnodes removed, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Not on tamoxifen as Triple Negative. Since then I’ve been fine…until recently. So, 5 years on and I am now getting pains right across my chest, sometimes it feels like pain to breast, other times to the sternum and under my armpits. It keeps me awake at night, and I get pins and needles in my arms and hands. It is making my head spin… I’ve checked my breasts about a million times for any lumps and nothing. It does my head in as it’s not just over the left side, it’s all over. Ibuprofen does help ease this but I beginning to feel paranoid. When visiting the breast clinic last year…I was told that this was very normal.
Would like to know if anyone else is currently going through this? Be grateful for any advice. X
Dear marleypop
I am sorry that you havent received any response as yet, I feel sure that someone will be along soon to offer you support.
In the meantime you may find it helpful to speak with one of our specialists on our free Helpline, 0808 800 6000.
Best wishes
Anna
Digital Community Officer
Hi Marleypop, was interesting to read your post, will just say my history is different to yours in that I was dx straight to stage 4, my primary was confirmed as breast following lymph node biopsy but my primary hasn’t been found. Late last year, not long before my last scan, I noticed that if I lay in bed on the bc side my arm was going numb and sometimes I got pins and needles in my fingers, consequently I was expecting that next scan to show changes (I have been NED since the repeat scan 3 months after my diagnosis which was then two years previous), it was actually fine, no changes whatsoever and my bloods were great (Onc’s words, not mine). I asked why I was getting the aches and numbness and was told not to worry about it, afraid I didn’t take everything in as I was so surprised and elated by the scan result! Recently I’ve had more aches on the other side and the initial bc side has improved! I don’t know how right this is but I have read that these aches and pains come and go and move around so, rightly or wrongly, I’ve gone with that. I make turmeric ‘golden’ paste which I keep reading helps with joint stiffness, I do think it may’ve helped me. It’s only turmeric, water, oil and black pepper so don’t think it can do much harm either, there are groups on fb if you’re interested in knowing more about that or let me know.That said, my Onc doesn’t have a problem with me trying these things. Also read on the food for breast cancer site that these aches and pains can be a sign that the drug is working well, let’s hope so! All the best to you, Kxx